Chapter 400: Nailing Down and the Most Critical Matter

Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao was stunned to see the Elder Offering choose to perish alongside the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang by detonating his Star Tower in the most horrific manner possible.

Because Cheng Cheng Yuexiao knew—and the Elder Offering knew even better—that detonating his Star Tower to take the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang with him was impossible.

The Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang's cultivation base was undeniable.

If someone had firmly restrained the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang in place, the Elder Offering's self-destruction of his Star Tower might have had a slim chance of taking him down.

But under these circumstances, inflicting serious injury on the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang was the absolute limit.

Yet despite knowing it was impossible, the Elder Offering still did it.

He was a late-stage Eighth-Rank powerhouse with decades of life remaining.

Neither Cheng Cheng Yuexiao nor Director Pei Ze could understand why the Elder Offering had done this!

But as his thoughts sank into the Star-Picking Token, and he glanced at its message, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao understood everything.

In his final moments, the Elder Offering sent Cheng Cheng Yuexiao multiple starlight messages.

They were his last words, a plea, and a bargain.

Above the imperial palace, as the terrifying torrent of starlight from the Elder Offering's detonated Star Tower struck, the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang barely held back the onslaught with his ancestral treasure, the Star Tower of Tian, and teleported away using a space-translocation seal.

In that instant, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao finished reading the Elder Offering's starlight messages.

In the same breath, he grasped the Elder Offering's intent—and knew this opportunity would not come again.

Even though the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang's figure had vanished, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao shot toward the palace like lightning, his Five-Colored Meteor already slamming into the afterimage of the Tianyang Xingjun.

As he struck, a thunderous roar erupted.

"Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang! You assassinated our Chen Emperor first, then murdered our Eighth-Rank Elder Offering—where do you think you're running?!"

Grand Commander Director Pei Ze was stunned.

Because he saw that Grand Master's Five-Colored Meteor had missed entirely.

Yet Grand Master's roar echoed throughout the entire Chen capital, Dachen Wan Yi.

It reached the ears of millions of Chen citizens.

This was effectively a public proclamation to the world!

The Chen people had already believed it.

The Chen aristocracy, however, had still harbored doubts when the Elder Offering had shouted that the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang was the regicide.

For those in high positions usually possessed independent judgment.

It made no sense.

Would the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang be so foolish as to come here and assassinate the Chen Emperor—doing something with no benefit and only harm?

And then get caught red-handed?

How stupid could he be?

But now, the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang had appeared and fled, and Grand Master had shouted it aloud.

Some began to believe.

Even if some still doubted, at this moment, they had no choice but to believe!

To show no stance now would be to deserve their fate!

Instantly, the entire capital of Dachen Wan Yi was filled with roaring fury.

All of it condemning the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang.

The heads of aristocratic families with cultivation power leapt into the sky, racing toward the palace, shouting and cursing the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang as they flew.

A complete reversal from the earlier silence!

Who actually killed the emperor didn't matter.

What mattered was that the emperor was dead, while the Grand Master lived—and remained invincible in battle.

Now, if the Grand Master said the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang did it, then it must be the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang!

Above the palace, the Elder Offering's Star Tower rapidly faded, his physical body began to disintegrate, and his spiritual essence followed suit.

At the moment he detonated his Star Tower, he had already blasted his divine core into the tower to catalyze its destruction.

Even though the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang had escaped, the process of the Elder Offering's self-destruction could not be reversed.

Seeing the Grand Master arrive, the Elder Offering's remaining form trembled, lips moving as if to speak—but he could not find the words.

Soon, his remains had disintegrated down to his head.

The Elder Offering stared fixedly at Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, his gaze holding countless unspoken meanings—but he could not voice them in public.

Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao was no fool—he understood the Elder Offering's meaning at once.

He gave the Elder Offering's shattered head a solemn nod.

A sign of understanding—and a promise.

Upon receiving Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's nod, the Elder Offering's wide, furious eyes relaxed. A faint smile appeared on his starlight-burning, crumbling head, like an old chrysanthemum in full bloom.

The next instant, he crumbled to ash.

The Elder Offering's Star Tower, body, and spiritual essence vanished completely.

The Elder Offering's Seven-Star Spirit Treasure, Yin Dragon Dagger, fell from the sky—but landed upon Jia Bao, the Grand Eunuch of the Inner Court, who had been gravely wounded earlier by Xu Jin, along with the Elder Offering's Numinous Space.

In his final moment, the Elder Offering had chosen his successor.

"Peng Lao, guard the palace. Execute anyone showing signs of unrest immediately!"

With that order, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao called to Grand Commander Director Pei Ze, and in an instant, they flew beyond Dachen Wan Yi.

Fifty li outside Dachen Wan Yi, the Lord of Cangming Palace and the Lord of Muling Palace watched from afar.

Eighty li away, the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang appeared, battered and exhausted.

Gazing at the five cracks now marred across his Star Tower of Tian, he was heartbroken—too distraught even to wipe the blood from his lips before pouring star power into the artifact to expel the Elder Offering's lingering star energy.

The Star Tower of Tian was the sacred treasure of the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang's sect, on par with Cheng Cheng Yuexiao's Nine Sheng Bell.

It was rarely used.

Yet today, it had been severely damaged by the Elder Offering's self-detonation!

Those five cracks would take three or four years to fully heal.

The Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang was furious.

This trip had been meant to snatch the national jade seal—but instead, he'd nearly been crippled.

In the end, he gained nothing but a colossal black mark.

And not only that—he'd damaged his own sect's sacred treasure. This—

The Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang felt a seething, foul fire building in his chest.

But he had nowhere to vent it.

At that moment, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, holding the Nine Sheng Bell, arrived with Grand Commander Director Pei Ze at the city's outskirts, ten li away, preparing to advance—when suddenly, Eighth-Rank auras appeared from multiple directions.

It was the Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming and the Tianyang Xingjun of Zhen'e.

Though they arrived late, they were fully aware of the battlefield's shifting events.

They had planted countless spies within Dachen Wan Yi; starlight messages flew like snowflakes, one after another—they had already grasped the full turn of events.

Now that they had arrived and saw all the top Eighth-Ranks gathered outside the city, they halted.

Then the Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming cast a strange glance at the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang. "Lord Tianyang, you're truly impressive! Killing an emperor—I've never done it in my life, and you've already done it!

Doesn't it feel good?"

"Shut up!"

The Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang shot the Tianyang Xingjun of Cangming a sour look, too weary even to argue. With so many Eighth-Ranks gathered outside Dachen Wan Yi, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao and Director Pei Ze dared not stray far from the city.

Others aside, the Lords of Muling Palace, Xumi Palace, and the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang might still cooperate.

If these three top Eighth-Ranks united fully, they could truly give Cheng Cheng Yuexiao a real fight.

If they left Dachen Wan Yi, their chances of killing Cheng Cheng Yuexiao were real.

"Madness!"

Cheng Cheng Yuexiao stood atop the stars, roaring at the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang: "Lord Tianyang! You murdered my Chen Emperor—dare you come face me, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, and settle this once and for all!

Today, it's life or death!"

As he spoke, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao instantly stepped forward among the stars, thirty li from the city.

Grand Commander Director Pei Ze held back cautiously behind him.

"I didn't do it! It was the Blood Sect's demons!" the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang helplessly protested.

"Hmph. The Blood Sect is infamous, but even their leader wouldn't dare take responsibility for this!" Cheng Cheng Yuexiao said.

"And he couldn't have done it either!"

"Grand Master Cheng, I didn't do it! What benefit would I gain from killing the Chen Emperor?

Only harm, no gain!

When I arrived, the emperor had already been assassinated—the Blood Sect demons were fleeing!"

"Lord Tianyang! The Elder Offering saw you stab our Chen Emperor with his own eyes! In his rage, he detonated his Star Tower to take you down with him!

And now you dare deny it!" Cheng Cheng Yuexiao roared.

"I didn't do it—why should I admit to it?

Maybe you, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, murdered the emperor first—and then framed me!"

No sooner had the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang spoken than he turned and vanished into starlight without waiting for any reply or bidding farewell to anyone.

"Lord Tianyang, don't flee! Today, I swear to kill you or die trying!"

In desperation, Grand Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao moved to chase after the Tianyang Xingjun of Lord Tianyang—but Grand Commander Director Pei Ze rushed forward and blocked him firmly.

"Grand Master, avenging the emperor isn't urgent now—we must first stabilize the realm!"

With General Pei's intervention, the furious State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao suddenly stopped, coldly glancing at the Wood Spirit Palace Master and the Sumeru Palace Master before bowing to the Cangming Tianyang Xingjun and the Zhen'e Tianyang Xingjun: "Your support is deeply appreciated, and I shall repay you in due course!"

Today is the great mourning of Chen Guo—I shall not invite you both into the city!"

"Understood, understood!"

The Cangming Tianyang Xingjun and the Zhen'e Tianyang Xingjun bowed to Cheng Cheng Yuexiao with a smile, then slowly took to the skies and departed.

The Sumeru Palace Master and the Wood Spirit Palace Master also swiftly departed together.

As long as they left Dachen Wan Yi, the two of them together had no fear of Cheng Cheng Yuexiao!

Watching the many eighth-rank elite warriors depart one by one, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao finally exhaled in relief.

Only when he turned back toward Dachen Wan Yi did he swallow a large handful of elixirs.

Don't be fooled by his thunderous roars.

He was also drained.

Earlier, he had fought six eighth-rank opponents alone, then launched a counterattack—his energy was utterly spent.

If the Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun had truly come to fight, today's loser would most likely have been him!

But his judgment was correct.

Then again, it wasn't just judgment.

If the Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun had truly come to fight, State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao was no fool—he would have immediately lured him into the coverage range of Chen Guo's Zhaixing Tower's main hall and blasted him with the Torrent Starlight!

You've killed my Emperor—do you expect me to play by your rules?

Returning over Dachen Wan Yi, State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao gazed at the brightly lit city and suddenly felt exhausted.

The great battle was over, but the real work had only just begun.

For the coming days, he'd likely have to work nonstop.

But before the rush, State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao immediately sent Xu Jin a Starlight Message.

【Where are you? How are things? Are you injured?】

【State Master, I've returned to the State Academy. I was wounded by the Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun, but not severely—I'll enter the Zhaixing Tower shortly to heal.】

【Good. Heal first. If anything urgent arises, contact me immediately.】

Confirming Xu Jin was unharmed, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao relaxed—but his back was still drenched in cold sweat.

This operation accounted for everything—except the Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun.

He never expected this bastard could teleport directly into Chen Guo's imperial palace.

This gave State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao a new appreciation for Emperor Qian'an's incompetence!

He let the enemy's top eighth-rank warrior turn the imperial palace into a spatial beacon, so he could arrive anytime.

What kind of madness is that!

He'd rather trust the Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun than himself!

Sigh.

Fortunately, Xu Jin had his own methods—or perhaps the old Supplying Elder's return was just perfectly timed.

Otherwise, Xu Jin would've been in deep trouble.

If Xu Jin had fallen, State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao would've bled out.

Ten Qian'an Emperors wouldn't be enough to make up for it.

But now, with Qian'an Emperor dead, he still deserved proper dignity.

This was also one of the contents of the old Supplying Elder's Starlight Message to State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao!

No matter what, the old Supplying Elder hoped the State Master would bury Qian'an Emperor with full imperial rites!

At the same time, the old Supplying Elder also hoped the State Master would support a new sovereign with imperial bloodline.

These were the old Supplying Elder's wishes—or rather, his conditions.

All were clever men—just a hint, and they understood.

The old Supplying Elder's public roar over Chen Guo's imperial palace, including his self-destruction of the Star Tower, had irrevocably branded the Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun as the regicide!

No matter what he said, it was useless!

Even if the Blood God Sect openly claimed responsibility, no one would believe them!

Even the Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun's earlier explanations were now meaningless!

But without the old Supplying Elder's act, the Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun could have simply insisted Cheng Cheng Yuexiao was the killer and framed him—over time, rumors would have smeared Cheng Cheng Yuexiao in filth.

A thief's accusation sinks deep into the bone!

But now, it was gone.

No matter how loudly the Lord Tianyang Tianyang Xingjun shouted, even if he mobilized the entire Da Hong Empire to clear his name and frame Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, it was useless!

The self-destruction of an eighth-rank late-stage elite had sealed his fate!

It also spared Cheng Cheng Yuexiao countless troubles.

So, the old Supplying Elder's wishes must be honored.

At the same time, fulfilling the old Supplying Elder's wishes was key to maintaining Chen Guo's stability.

"General Pei, impose martial law on Dachen Wan Yi," State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao suddenly ordered.

"Understood."

After receiving the order, General Director Pei Ze asked, "State Master, during the chaos, many noble families in Dachen Wan Yi remained hidden—even gathered elite troops under their command. Should we…?"

Hearing this, State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao shook his head. "Even with a new sovereign, Chen Guo will remain turbulent for a while. Stability of the people must come first!"

General Pei and the Chunyu Bureau will jointly investigate. As long as no one is found guilty of treason, leave them alone.

But if anyone is found guilty of treason, punish them severely and strictly!"

"Understood."

General Director Pei Ze departed. State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, gazing at the brightly lit Dachen Wan Yi, sighed softly—so many threads to untangle!

There was far too much to do next.

After sending multiple Starlight Messages to recall Ji Bang, Dong Zhao, and others, State Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao pondered long, then sent Xu Jin an urgent Starlight Message!

One matter was of utmost importance—Xu Jin must handle it.

And he must act immediately!

Only Xu Jin could do it.

It must be done before the new sovereign is chosen!

(End of Chapter)